Tile wall facing
ca. 1725
Medium
tiles
Classification
tiles
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of William Randolph Hearst
Accession Number
1926-43-4-166
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the colonial past with this striking *Tile Wall Facing*, crafted around 1725. Composed entirely of meticulously arranged tiles, this artwork exemplifies early 18th-century decorative, likely designed to adorn a fireplace surround or interior wall in an American home. Though the artist remains unknown—befitting many anonymous crafts of the era—the piece reflects the era's blend of functionality and ornamentation, where tiles provided durable, colorful protection against soot and sparks while elevating everyday spaces. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Smithsonian Collec...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...